Chapter 149: 149. One Final Fight

ALLISON.

I immediately felt the exhaustion washed over me as soon as we arrived at the cabin. It was like my body finally had the chance to feel all the horrible things that have happened in the past three days. Quinn, who was already in her human form, wrapped an arm around me and led me toward the bathroom.

“Take a shower, get changed. You need it,” she said softly.

I didn’t argue. The moment the warm water hit my skin, I nearly collapsed from relief. The dirt, sweat, and traces of blood swirled down the drain, but no matter how much I scrubbed, the memories clung to me. Sullivan’s face, the haunted look in his eyes when he fought against Celestine’s control. I wished I could have brought him here with me.

By the time I stepped out of the shower, dressed in a fresh set of clothes Quinn had left for me. I felt marginally better. But the moment I walked into the living room, I found that they were all there.

Mason. Liam. Daniel. River. Wesley—the complete set, along with Quinn. They all seemed to be waiting for me.

Wesley was the first to step forward, a soft smile on his lips. "Sorry I wasn’t able to join the rescue operation. I was tasked with guarding this little princess."

Amaris clung on his arms, her tiny form wrapped in a soft blanket, her delicate features peaceful in sleep.

Tears burned my eyes as I rushed forward, carefully taking her from Wesley’s arms. She felt so small, so warm, so heartbreakingly precious in my hold. I missed her so much! I clutched her tightly against my chest.

"You brought her with you?" My voice cracked.

Wesley nodded.

"We couldn’t just leave her knowing that some people might go after her as well. We thought it would be better if we brought her along."

I pressed a kiss to Amaris’s forehead, my tears wetting her soft skin.

"Thank you," I whispered. "For keeping her safe. For coming to my rescue. I mean it."

Mason walked up beside me, his silver eyes were filled with concern and passion.

"I'm relieved we made it just in time. I can't imagine what I'd do if we were even a second late,” he murmured.

Before I could respond, I felt arms wrap around me. One after another.

All five of them—Mason, Liam, Daniel, River, and Wesley—closed in around me, pulling me into a tight embrace. Their warmth surrounded me and it brought me a great comfort. They pressed their lips against my cheeks, my neck, my shoulders, my arms, as if kissing me was the only thing that would prove that they weren’t dreaming, that I was really standing in front of them. Alive. Safe.

I smiled as they whispered against my skin.

"I missed you."

"You scared the hell out of me."

"You're safe now."

"I thought I'd lose you."

"Never again."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, sinking into the moment. Despite everything, despite the danger looming around us, we were together. And in this moment, it was enough.

Finally, I opened my eyes and looked at them.

"By the way, how did you even locate me?" I asked.

River smirked, though it didn’t reach his eyes. "Well… it's a gritty process."

I didn’t get to focus on his answer because I got too distracted with the burns on his face. There was also an eyepatch that covered his right eye.

"Oh, Goddess… what happened to your face?!"

I reached out, my fingers trembling as they ghosted over his injuries while I clutched Amaris with the other arm.

River gave a humorless chuckle.

"That’s another gritty story… but it's mostly about your brother burning my face."

I sucked in a breath. "Sullivan did this to you?"

River didn’t answer, but he didn’t have to. My memories of when I was abducted at the Crimson Fangs pack were a bit choppy. I didn’t know that Sullivan did this to me. Granted, Sullivan was only acting according to Celestine’s orders but still, I wished he didn’t have to do this to River.

Then my gaze shifted. Liam had similar injuries. He had burns on his neck and arms too. I felt guilty.. They were hurt. Badly. Because of me.

"I'm so sorry. You got hurt because of the mess I bring everywhere—"

River cut me off with a sharp look.

"No, don’t. Don't apologize for being the victim. It's not your fault that those assholes are after you. And don’t be sorry because you mean so much to us. I’d burn myself over and over again if it means I get to save you every damn time."

Liam nodded, his jaw tightening.

"We’re more concerned about you. What did they do to you there? Did they hurt you? Damn it."

Before I could stop him, his fingers brushed against my neck. His entire body went rigid.

I flinched. I knew what he saw, the bruises, the choke marks Sullivan had left when he was forced to fight me.

Mason's expression darkened. "I'll kill them."

I forced a small smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry. It'll heal."

River scoffed. "Doesn't mean we'll let it pass."

I frowned.

"Are you planning to fight them?”

"That's inevitable, Alli,” Quinn’s voice was quiet, but firm.

Daniel, who had been silent until now, gently stroked Amaris’s tiny hand as she lay in my arms. "We’ll be safe here for a few hours. River put a spell around this place to keep us hidden, but it can only last twelve hours. Before it breaks, we need to prepare to move."

“As soon as the barrier falls, those fuckers will be able to smell our location. We have to prepare for one last bloodbath,” River added.

A chill ran down my spine. One last battle.

"Can we handle them? It’s not just the masked organization anymore. The vampires from the Hallowed Keep Coven are after me too."

Mason was visibly tensed at the mention of the Hallowed Keep. River muttered a string of curses.

Wesley sighed.

"We've got more reinforcements coming in a few hours. We just need to hold off the enemies until then,” he said.

Quinn looked at me sharply.

"Wait. Back up. The vampires we fought earlier—those were from the Hallowed Keep? As in the strongest vampire coven in the Outworld?" she asked.

I nodded grimly. The room went silent. Slowly, I told them everything. What happened in those three days. How the Hallowed Keep and the masked organization were after me because of my dragonblood.

“River was right, then. You really are a dragonblood,” Wesley muttered.

"And they’re not only after me. They're after Amaris, too,” I said.

"No. I won't let them lay a hand on her,” Daniel gritted out.

I held Amaris closer, my mind spinning.

"Celestine already has Sullivan. But she won’t stop until she gets me and Amaris, too. The Hallowed Keep wants me as well."

Quinn's expression darkened. "Sullivan…" Her voice wavered. "Is he really… against us?"

I took her hand and gave it a light squeeze.

"He's still Sullivan. But right now, he's under Celestine's control. He is forced to do whatever she wants because of a binding ritual,” I stated.

"A binding ritual? That sounds like bad news." River crossed his arms and shook his head.

"It is. He's forced to obey her. To kill whoever she tells him to,” I murmured.

Quinn’s gaze dropped on the floor. She looked devastated. I knew how hard it must be for her to know that Sullivan, the mate she thought has died years ago was actually alive. And yet, he was forced to be our enemy.

"Sullivan is Celestine’s trump card. If we don’t break his binding spell, he’ll destroy everything in his path,” I said.

Quinn heaved a sigh.

"He hasn’t forgotten about us. We have to save him,” she said in a weak voice.

“In that case, we need a plan” Wesley declared.

He looked at each of us.

"Let’s end this war once and for all."